Various venues, Cardiff
Sat 9 Apr
Perceived by its host and its punters as a kind of diet Swn or perhaps Swn lite, this one-day mini-jamboree is but a third of the wondrous city centre Welsh music festival we know and love in the autumn – but by no means a meagre morsel in comparison. Rather, it boasts the same high calibre lineup and energetic revelry, just in a more condensed format. It’s a very welcome addition to a calendar wherein we normally have a hefty wait before we can get our fix of Swn shenanigans.
There’s no end of great names on the bill this year. Lancashire’s rising indie-meets-prog-meets-avant garde icon Kiran Leonard who has just released a new album Grapefruit. Coves are fresh off their new release to deliver some fantastic shoegazey indiepop. Also making a stop on his Fight To Forgive album tour is coveted Manchester singer-songwriter Mike Dignam.
Bry is another one sure to fill the floor, not only a popular singer-songwriter but a much followed social media presence, particularly on YouTube. The Big Moon bring a fair measure of kudos with them, currently on their first ever headline tour and attracting a lot of attention, so be sure not to miss them.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Swn without a good portion of Welsh names on the list and thankfully there are plenty. Estrons return after a great reception at this year’s SXSW. Sarah Howells, of Paper Aeroplanes acclaim, will be appearing with her exciting new solo project Bryde. A select number of this year’s Horizons 12 (BBC project championing bands in Wales) will also be performing – CaStLes, Ysgol Sul and Anelog – and there will also be an entire stage in Undertone dedicated to the artists on the Forte Project, comprised of a younger array of emerging talent from Wales.
On the topic of youngsters, Swn are offering a special price of a fiver for 14-17 year olds, that’s a whopping discount of £20. The rest of us still get treated to an incredible day of live music fresh and unadulterated – not to be sniffed at.
Admission: £30/£25 adv/£5 14-17-year-olds. Info: www.dimswn.com
CHARLIE PIERCEY